Fulling machine



D. GESSNER FULLING MACHINE Oct. 16, 1934.

3 Sheets-Sheet Original Filed Oct. 19, 1931 Z7adcz76 essIr Oct. 16, 1934.

D. GESSNER FULLING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 19. 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ficfezzr z/z'aGessrcer:

D. GESSNER FULLING MACHINE Oct. 16, 1934.

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Patented Oct. 1 6, 1934 'UNITED'S'TATES PATENT OFFICE 'FULLING MACHINE David Gessner, Worcester, Mass.

Application October 19, 1931, Serial No. 569,577 Renewed February 9, 1934 12; Claims. (01. 26-21) This invention relates to machines for fulling woolen cloths or other fabrics during the finishing thereof. My invention relates more particularly to improvementsin fulling machines of the general type shown in my prior Patent 1,832,377, dated Nov. 17, 1931.

In the machine therein shown, a plurality of fulling stocks are alternately raised and lowered, falling upon theloosely folded cloth as it is advanced through the machine by a slowly moving inclined conveyor apron; In such fulling machines, it is customary to provide the cloth-engaging face of the fulling stocks with grooves or corrugations, which may be disposed either 1K5. lengthwise or transversely withrespect to the travel of the cloth.

'If the corrugations run lengthwise, the transverse shrinkage of the cloth is proportionately increased, and if the corrugations run cross-wise,

T201 the lengthwise shrinkage of the cloth is correspondingly increased. Consequently, the effect of 'the fulling operation on the cloth may be varied and controlled by subjecting the cloth to the'action of fulling stocks having end faces with, different fulling characteristics.

When treating successive difierent kinds of fabric or fabrics'made of different kinds of yarn, it is frequently necessary to change the typeof fulling stock employed, so as toincrease or de- 393 crease the shrinkage in "one direction or the other. In order toaccomplish this result, ithas been heretofore necessary to remove one set of fulling stocks from the machine and to replace them with an entirely different set of stocks.

- This'is a slow and laborious operation and is quite expensive, not only on account of theamount of labor required but also on account of the loss in production of the machine during the change-over.

It is the general object of my present invention to provide fulling stocks having two or more cloth-engaging faces provided with grooves or corrugations of difierent types or otherwise having different fulling characteristics.

A further object of my invention is to provide means by which fulling stocks having difierent facecharacteristics may be quickly and easily brought into selected operative positions. I I also provide improvedmechanism for supporting a plurality of double-endfulling stocks in a fulling machine and. for reversing the operative position of said'fulling stocks. 7

,My invention further relates to arrangements and combinations ofparts which will be here:

inafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings, in which Fig. l is a side elevation, partly in section, of my improved fulling machine;

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional along the line 2-2 in Fig; 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation of the machine, with certain parts shown diagrammatically;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a series of fulling stocks and their supporting mechanism, looking in the direction of the arrow 4 in Figs. 1 and 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a set of fulling stocks and carriers, looking in the direction of the arrow 5,inFig.3;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of there-v versible holders for the fulling stock carriers;

Fig. 711s an end view of the upper and lower cover plates for the holdershown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the manner of assembling the carriers and cover plates, the supporting holder being removed;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of :a plurality of fulling stocks; I

Fig. 10 is a sectional endelevation, taken along the line 1010 in Fig. 9; and 1 Figs. 11 and 12 are detail plan views showing modified forms of fulling blocks.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown a fulling machine which is similar in its main features to the machine shown in my prior application above identified. In this machine, the cloth C is delivered over a'feed-roll' 1-0 to a converging folding chute 11, in which the cloth is retarded and assembled in folds or layers." The cloth passes from the chute 11 to an apron or conveyor 12, traveling downward over an inclined fulling table'13. The table 13 is mounted on brackets 14 and 15 and is preferably cushioned on rubber blocks 16. I

The conveyor or apron 12 is driven at a relatively slow rate of speed through suitable driving connections (not shown). The cloth -C is acted upon by a plurality of ful'ling stocks (to be described), as it travels slowly down the table 13.

Thecloth then passes under a retarding 'roll 20 and into a cradle or open receptacle 21, from which it is drawn upward betweenspreader rolls 22 and through a balancing'devicec23.

The cloth then passes over a-gu'ide-roll 24 and between driven squeeze rolls 25. As theI-cloth approaches the squeezetrolls, it may 'be m'ois tened by'a' suitable spraying device26, other such plan view, taken of reversible carrier holders 46.

devices being provided at different points in the travel of the cloth.

The cloth then passes over additional guiderolls 27 and 28, through an additional balancing device 29, and over a driven draft roll 30. The cloth may then be passed under a guide-roll 31 for delivery at the front of the machine, or it may be passed over the feed-roll 10 previously described, if it is desired to send the cloth through the fulling machine for a repeated fulling operation. This general arrangement of parts is substationally similar to that shown and described in my previous application.

My present invention relates more particu'-" larly to the construction of the fulling stocks and to the operating mechanism therefor. I provide a plurality of fulling stocks 33 (Fig. 10), each preferably formed from a single block of wood and having one end face grooved longitudinally of the path of travel of the cloth, as indicated at 34 in Fig. 9, and having the other end grooved transversely, as'indicated at 35 in Fig. 10.

These fulling stocks are provided with vertically elongated slots 36 (Fig. 10) through which extend supporting boards or carriers 40, on which thestocks 33 are supported with provision for a certain amount of free vertical motion. Blocks of rubber or other cushion material 41 are preferably fixed in the upper and lower ends of the slots 36, which cushion .material substantially reduces the noise of operation.

The ends of the carriers 4i) are received in slotted openings or rec'esses 44 (Fig. 6) formed between ribs or projections 45 on the inner faces The carriers are vertically positioned in the openings 44 by cover plates 47 and 48 (Fig. '7) having a series of supporting projections 49 of different heights mounted thereon. These projections are provided with end blocks 50 of cushion material and engage the upper and lower edges of the end portions of the carriers, as clearly shown in Fig. 8. The projections 49 are of graduated length, so that the carriers are disposed in an inclined series, corresponding to the angle of they fulling table 13.

The holders 46 are provided with hub portions 52 extending outward through bearing blocks 54 (Fig. 4) and provided with sprockets 55 secured to the outer ends of said hub portions. The blocks 54 are vertically slidable in fixed grooved guide-bars 57 and are connected by links 58 (Fig.4) to crank-pins 59 (Fig. 1) in discs 60, continuously rotated by a motor M. Two sets of fulling stocks 33, carriers 40, holders 46 and blocks 54 are preferably provided, as shown in Fig. 1, and the crank-pins 59 are reversely arranged .so thatthe two sets of fulling stocks are alternately raised and lowered.

The sprockets 55 (Figs. 1 and 4) are connected by chains 62 to sprockets 63 on a cross shaft 64, mounted in bearing brackets 65 secured to the top portions of the sliding blocks .54 and vertically movable therewith. A crank or handle 66 may be applied to one end of the cross rod 64 for adjustment thereof.

Locking pins 68 are provided for the sprockets 55 and these pins may be inserted in selected holes 70 in the blocks 54. These holes '70 are 180 apart and are consequently available for locking the sprockets 55 after a half revolution in either direction.

Steam coils '75 (Fig. 3) arepreferably mounted beneath the fulling table 13 and a steam box '76 having a perforated cover 7'7 is preferably mounted at the upper end of the table 13 and directly beneath the lower end of the folding chute 11.

Having described the details of construction of a preferred form of my invention, the method of operation and advantages thereof are as folows:

The cloth C being fed into the chute 11 accumulatesin folds therein and is gradually withdrawn therefrom by the slow downward feeding movement of the conveyer or apron 12, the folds of cloth passing under a pressure roller 78 as they leave the chute 11. The cloth then travels slowly down the table 13 on the conveyor 12 and is thoroughly pounded by the two series of fulling stocks 33, which are alternately raised and lowered by the operating mechanism previously described. The pressure roll 20 at the lower end of the table 13 retards the folds of cloth and prevents them from slipping freely down the conveyor 12. I

Assuming that the fulling stocks are arranged as shown in Figs. 4 and 9, with the transverse corrugations 35 engaging the cloth, the machine will have a marked tendency to shrink the cloth lengthwise, thereby shortening the web. If it is found desirable to treat the same piece of cloth or some other piece of cloth in such a way as to increase the lateral or transverse shrinkage, the locking pins 68 are removed and the handle 66 is used to rotate the sprockets 55 and holders 46 through 180, after which the locking pins 68may be again inserted. This operation inverts the holders 46, carriers 40 andfulling-stocks 33, and presents the longitudinal corrugations 34 (Fig. 9 in position to engage the fabric. Thisreversing operation is quickly and easily performed and with practically no loss of production by the machine. I

v If it is desired to average the shrinkage lengthwise and transversely, one set only of fulling stocks may be reversed, so that one set will engage the cloth with longitudinal corrugations 34 while the remaining set engages the cloth with transverse corrugations 35. e

In this way, any desired result or combination of results may be readily attained. The provision of the cushion members 16, 41 and 50 increases thesmoothness of operation, reducing the jar or shock, and also greatly deadening the noise produced by the machine.

Wide variations in the results accomplished by a fulling machine are caused by variations in the temperature at which the cloth is treated. While certain kinds of cloth may be satisfactorily treated cold, other kinds of cloth must be thoroughly warmed up before they can be satisfactorily fulled or milled. In the ordinary fulling machine, no provision is made for controlling the heat and a great deal of time is lost in starting up on cold mornings, before the clothreaches a temperature at which it can be satisfactorily worked.

By the provision of the steam pipes '75 and the steam box '76, I am able to supply heat when and as needed, and to control the temperature of the cloth so that the machine may always operate at the most desirable temperature. The steam coils '75 keepthe' cloth warm as it is being treated and the steam box 76 warms up the cloth which is in reserve in the chute 11.

In Figs. 11 and 12 I have shown a modified construction in which the fulling blocks 8() are wedge-shaped in horizontal section, but "are otherwise constructed as previously'describe'd; It

is necessary in assembling the wooden fulling blocks in the machine to allow substantial clearance between the blocks, as the blocks are increased in width while in use by the effects of excessive moisture. The provision of such clearance allows the blocks to shift more or less lengthwise of the carriers. By using the tapered or wedge-shaped construction, the broader ends of the fulling faces overlap, even when spaced somewhat apart from each other, so that all portions of the cloth are subjected to fulling action although the fulling blocks may not be maintained in close contact.

The construction by which the cloth is heated during the fulling operation is not claimed herein but is included in the subject matter of a continuation application Serial No. 744,713 filed Sept. 19, 1934.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:-

1. In a fulling machine, means to support a width of cloth, a plurality of fulling stocks intermittently engaging said cloth, means to raise and lower said stocks, said stocks being arranged in series, and means to reverse the position of a series of said stocks as a unit with respect to the cloth.

2. In a fulling machine, means to support a width of cloth, a plurality of fulling stocks intermittently engaging said cloth, means to raise and lower said stocks, said stocks being arranged in series, and means to move a series of said fulling stocks angularly as a unit, whereby selected end portions of said stocks may be positioned to engage the cloth.

3. In a fulling machine, means to support a width of cloth, a plurality of fulling stocks intermittently engaging said cloth, means to raise and lower said stocks, said stocks being arranged in series, means to give a series of said stocks an angular movement, and means to hold said series of stocks in either one of two selected angular positions, which positions are 180 apart.

4. In a fulling machine, means to support a width of cloth, a plurality of fulling stocks intermittently engaging said cloth, means to raise and lower said stocks, said stocks being arranged in series and each having more than one fulling face, and means to present selected faces of said stocks in position to engage the cloth.

5. In a fulling machine, means to support a width of cloth, a plurality of fulling stocks intermittently engaging said cloth, means to raise and lower said stocks, said stocks being arranged in series and each having faces of different fulling characteristics, and means to vary the position of a series of said stocks to present selected faces to engage the cloth.

6. In a fulling machine, means to support a width of cloth, a plurality of fulling stocks intermittently engaging said cloth, carriers for said stocks, means to raise and lower said carriers, and means to partially rotate said carriers to reverse the operative position of said stocks.

7. In a fulling machine, means to support a width of cloth, a plurality of fulling stocks intermittently engaging said cloth, carriers for said stocks, means to raise and lower said carriers, means to give said carriers a half revolution to reverse the operative position of said stocks, and means to hold said carriers in a selected position.

8. In a fulling machine, a plurality of fulling stocks, each having one end portion with certain fulling characteristics and each having an opposite end portion with different fulling characteristics, and selective means to position said stocks with either end operative.

9. In a fulling machine, a reversible fulling stock having one end portion with certain fulling characteristics and having an opposite end portion with different fulling characteristics.

10. In fulling machine, a reversible fulling stock having one end portion with certain fulling characteristics and having an opposite end portion with different fulling characteristics, and means to support a plurality of said stocks in said machine and to present selected ends of said stocks in operative position.

11. In a fulling machine, a reversible fulling stock having one end portion with certain fulling characteristics and having an opposite end portion with different fulling characteristics, means to support a plurality of said stocks in said machine, each with a selected end in operative position, and means to reverse such operative position.

12. In a fulling machine, a plurality of doubleend fulling stocks each having two operative positions, carriers for said stocks, and holders for said carriers, said holders being rotatably mounted in said machine and being movable to collectively reverse said stocks in respect to their operative positions.

13. In a fulling machine, a plurality of doubleend fulling stocks each having two operative positions, a set of carriers for said stocks, holders for said carriers, said holders being rotatably mounted in said machine, and means to simultaneously rotate the two holders supporting a set of carriers to collectively reverse said stocks with respect to their operative positions.

14. In a fulling machine, a plurality of fulling stocks, carriers for said stocks, holders for said carriers, said holders being rotatably mounted in said machine and having parallel transverse passages to receive the ends of a plurality of carriers, and means to hold said carriers in said passages.

15. In a fulling machine, a plurality of fulling stocks, carriers for said stocks, holders for said carriers, said holders being rotatably mounted in said machine and having parallel transverse passages to receive the ends of a plurality of carriers, and means to hold said carriers in said passages and at progressive elevations in said passages.

16. In a fulling machine, a plurality of fulling stocks, carriers for said stocks, holders for said carriers, said holders being rotatably mounted in said machine and having parallel transverse passages for the ends of a plurality of carriers, and covers for said holders having elements projecting into said passages and supporting said carriers at different and progressively higher elevations therein.

DAVID GESSNER. 

